James Gurney

This daily weblog by Dinotopia creator James Gurney is for illustrators, plein-air painters, sketchers, comic artists, animators, art students, and writers. You'll find practical studio tips, insights into the making of the Dinotopia books, and first-hand reports from art schools and museums.

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or by email:gurneyjourney (at) gmail.comSorry, I can't give personal art advice or portfolio reviews. If you can, it's best to ask art questions in the blog comments.

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All images and text are copyright 2015 James Gurney and/or their respective owners. Dinotopia is a registered trademark of James Gurney. For use of text or images in traditional print media or for any commercial licensing rights, please email me for permission.

However, you can quote images or text without asking permission on your educational or non-commercial blog, website, or Facebook page as long as you give me credit and provide a link back. Students and teachers can also quote images or text for their non-commercial school activity. It's also OK to do an artistic copy of my paintings as a study exercise without asking permission.

Monday, January 21, 2013

(Video link) Here's a video that tells the story of the making of Dinotopia, created for the 20th anniversary edition and the Lyman Allyn exhibition.

The exhibition called "Dinotopia: Art, Science, and Imagination" ends February 2 at the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in New London, Connecticut. The show has more than 100 objects: original oil paintings, preliminary sketches, maquettes, and dinosaur fossils.

18 comments:

I love watching the behind the scenes making of movies and for me this was a great behind the scenes look at how you make your art. You have put so much work into this, it definately shows. Thanks for all your efforts they are very much appreachiated.

Love the videos! They have a wonderful production value. Don't you do all these yourself with friends and family? Aren't you doing special camera moves with homemade lego dollies and cranes. Isn't the scripting and videoography all homespun garage tinkering that comes out great because you're having so much fun?

Michael, yes, I run the camera by myself, set up the lights and microphone and do the editing, too. My wife helped with the camera on location shots. It's all basic prosumer gear. Camera moves are powered by Lego motors unspooling thread to Lego carts running on dollar-store broomsticks. Smoke machine is my son's party gadget.

Diana, Mr. Kooks does leave droppings here and there and nibbles on sketches, but he's a good pal. He loves to hang around while I'm working, though he's mighty suspicious of the camera dollies.

I recognized Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum among your research spots. Will the Dinotopia exhibit be making any stops in Canada? The ROM would make a great venue (and one I could get to fairly easily!)

James, I was going to compliment you and the Museum for commissioning such a professional movie, complete with smoke effects. When I read in the comments that you made this little beauty yourself, I was doubly impressed. Is there no limit to your talents?